IPH Director Urges Government to Halt Plans to Deploy Peacekeeping Forces to Gaza

Jakarta, MINA — Director of Indonesia for Peace and Humanity (IPH) dr. Sarbini Abdul Murad has urged President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto not to deploy Indonesian peacekeeping forces to the Gaza Strip.

He warned that such a move could trigger new political and humanitarian complications amid the ongoing and unresolved Palestine–Israel conflict.

“Deploying peacekeeping troops to Gaza risks being perceived as part of a new colonial scenario. Hamas has explicitly stated that the presence of armed foreign forces in Gaza constitutes occupation, and they reject any attempt to disarm them,” dr. Sarbini said during the Buka Mata Buka Telinga program on Radio Rasil, Sunday.

He emphasized that while the Indonesian government’s humanitarian concern—reflected in plans to deploy up to 20,000 peacekeepers—deserves appreciation, the initiative must not become a geopolitical trap that draws Indonesia into an Israel–United States–led agenda.

“Indonesia must exercise extreme caution. A peace mission should not be exploited for global political interests that run counter to the Palestinian people’s struggle,” he said.

On the same occasion, international relations expert from Padjadjaran University, Prof. Drs. Teuku Rezasyah, MAIR., Ph.D., said the government needs to open broad public dialogue regarding the proposed troop deployment.

He also stressed the importance of coordination with the House of Representatives (DPR RI), particularly Commission I, which holds oversight authority over foreign policy and defense matters.

“The DPR must take this issue seriously. To date, there has been no official discussion in parliament, even though the implications for Indonesia’s foreign policy stance are significant,” Prof. Rezasyah said.

According to him, Indonesia must clearly assert that any presence in Gaza is solely for humanitarian missions, such as medical assistance and post-war reconstruction, not for disarming Palestinian resistance groups.

Prof. Rezasyah also urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to be more proactive in coordinating with the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and other international networks.

He noted that the OIC has so far failed to demonstrate a serious role in resolving the Palestine–Israel conflict.

“In some cases, the OIC appears to be more inclined toward Israel than Iran, which has consistently supported Palestine,” he said.

Meanwhile, several Radio Rasil listeners also voiced their opposition to sending peacekeeping troops to Gaza. They argued that it would be better for Indonesian military forces to focus on domestic disaster response, such as floods and landslides in Sumatra.

“Indonesia’s humanitarian mission must remain aligned with justice and the sovereignty of the Palestinian people, without compromising the country’s free and active foreign policy principles,” the statement concluded.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)